Prevalence Of Gallstone Disease Research Articles

Association of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Cholelithiasis: Cohort from Southeast Asian Patients

Introduction: With increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome, sedentary lifestyle, and diabetes mellitus the burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is also increasing along with its complications including gallstone disease. That is why, this study aims to determine the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with the prevalence of gallstone disease and also, risk factors associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic cholelithiasis.
 Methods: A prospective study design was performed and during the data collection phase we have enrolled a total of 218 patients who were diagnosed as a case of NAFLD from Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad between the periods of 19 months from March 2019 to October 2020. Diagnosis of NAFLD was made using liver biopsy and cholelithiasis with ultrasound abdomen. Both males and females with a primary diagnosis of NAFLD were included in this study. Patients were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic gallstone disease and were further assessed for underlying risk factor associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic gallstone disease. Statistical package for the social sciences version 21 (SPSS) used for the entry of data and final analysis and a p value of <0.05 were considered as statistically significant.
 Results: The overall prevalence of gallstone disease in patients with NAFLD was 12.84% (n = 28) among them 19 (67.85%) patients were having symptomatic gallstone disease while 9 patients had asymptomatic gallstones disease (32.14%). Patients having mean age 49.01 years, uncontrolled blood sugar level (209.24 mg/dl), mean alkaline phosphatase 106.22 IU/L, female gender, and having diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with symptomatic gallstones disease (p value <0.05).
 Conclusion: In our study, the cohorts have shown bidirectional association between gallstone disease and NAFLD. Also prevalence of symptomatic gallstone disease is quite high and it was strongly associated with increasing age, female gender, raised blood glucose levels, and diabetes mellitus.

Gallstone disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and gallstone disease (GSD) often coexist in the general population owing to shared risk factors. This study explored the relationship between NAFLD and GSD in patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 4325 patients with type 2 diabetes. GSD and NAFLD were confirmed using ultrasonography. GSD was defined as either asymptomatic gallstones or previous cholecystectomy, and each was analyzed separately.ResultThere was no significant difference in the prevalence of GSD between patients with and without NAFLD (23.8% vs. 21.2%, P = 0.15). After case–control matching (1:1) of baseline data such as age, sex, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c between patients with and without NAFLD, there was still no significant difference in the prevalence of GSD (25.5% vs. 23.6%, P = 0.15). The prevalence of NAFLD in patients with asymptomatic gallstones was lower than that of patients without GSD (38.6% vs. 47.3%, P < 0.001), whereas the prevalence in those who had undergone cholecystectomy was much higher (61.2% vs. 47.3%, P < 0.001). The ratio of cholecystectomy to asymptomatic gallstone in patients with or without NAFLD was 1.97 and 0.79, respectively. The rate of cholecystectomy was higher in the patients with NAFLD than in those without NAFLD (15.8% vs. 9.3%, P < 0.001), consistent with the result after case–control matching (17.3% vs. 11.2%, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for numerous potential confounding factors, revealed that GSD (OR = 1.241, 95%CI: 1.036–1.488, P = 0.002) and cholecystectomy (OR = 1.946, 95%CI: 1.546–2.445, P < 0.001) were both strongly associated with NAFLD. However, asymptomatic gallstone (OR = 0.663, 95%CI: 0.513–0.856, P = 0.002) seemed to be negatively correlated with NAFLD.ConclusionsThe prevalence of GSD was similar in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without NAFLD. The higher proportion of cholecystectomy and lower proportion of asymptomatic gallstones in patients with NAFLD suggests that NAFLD may increase the risk of complications of GSD.

The gallbladder in diabetes

The gallbladder in diabetes

Sex-Related Differences in the Association between Metabolic Syndrome and Gallstone Disease.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and gallstone disease (GD) share common risk factors. Several epidemiological studies reported that subjects with Mets are more likely to have GD than those without and that cholecystectomy (CHO) may increase the risk of MetS. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between MetS and GD in a large cohort of patients with metabolic risk factors in Italy. The study was performed in 620 consecutive outpatients referring to the University outpatients’ clinic for the management of cardiovascular risk factors. MetS were diagnosed according to the ATPIII Expert Panel modified criteria. GD was defined as gallstones documented by abdominal ultrasound (US) or previous cholecystectomy. The prevalence of GD was significantly higher in women than in men (22.3% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.003). Both prevalence of GD (17.1% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.015) and CHO (9.0% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in males with MetS as compared to those without. By contrast, the prevalence of GD and of CHO was similar in women with and without MetS. After correction for confounders, MetS was an independent predictor of both GD (odds ratio (OR) 1.943, p = 0.048) and CHO (OR 5.075, p = 0.011) in men, but not in women. In conclusion, in this study, including western subjects with cardiometabolic risk factors, the association between GD, prior CHO and MetS were found in men, but not in women.

The association between gallstone disease (GSD) and hip fracture: a nationwide population-based study

ABSTRACT Objectives: Despite the high prevalence of gallstone disease (GSD), the shared risk factors of GSD and osteoporosis, and the known association between hip fracture and hepatobiliary diseases, the association between hip fracture and GSD is not currently clear. Therefore, we performed a nationwide population-based study to investigate the association between GSD and hip fracture to determine the impact of cholecystectomy on the risk of fracture. Methods: In this study, we assessed all subjects in the longitudinal health insurance database (LHID) between 2000 and 2011, excluding those subjects aged >20 years old and those with a previous history of hip fracture (ICD-9-CM 820). Among those that were included, subjects with at least two or more outpatient visits or with one record of hospitalization under the coding of GSD (ICD-9-CM code: 574) were allocated to the GSD cohort. The remaining subjects were designated to the control cohort. All participants were followed till the onset of hip fracture, withdrawal from the NHI, or the end of 2013. Results: We found that the cumulative incidence of hip fracture was higher in the GSD cohort than in the control cohort (log-rank test: p-value < 0.01). After adjustment, the GSD patients had a 1.21-fold risk of hip fracture compared to control subjects (aHR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.21–1.30). Comparison between those subjects without GSD and those without cholecystectomy revealed that the risk of hip fracture was higher among GSD patients that had not undergone cholecystectomy (aHR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.06–1.29) or those that had undergone cholecystectomy (aHR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.06–1.41). Conclusion: Based upon these results, we concluded that GSD was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture regardless of whether the patient had undergone cholecystectomy.

A South Indian Cadaveric Study on the Prevalence of Gallstones

Background Gallstone disease (GSD) is one among the most prevalent diseases that affects approximately 10-15% of the population. It is associated with many other diseases like gallbladder cancer, renal stones, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and stroke. Objective Objective of this study is to document the prevalence of gallstones among south Indian cadavers. Method One hundred and twenty three South Indian cadaveric livers/gallbladders were observed for the presence of gallstones. The age range was 40 to 70 years. The gallbladders were palpated to know the presence of stones. They were then dissected and the stones were classified based on appearance. Gall bladder walls were also observed to know the associated fibrosis. Result Among the cadavers studied, 0.81% possessed cholesterol stones and 4.06% had pigment stones. Among the stones, 83.33% were pigment stones and 16.66% were cholesterol stones. Conclusion Compared to the western countries and north Indian studies, the prevalence of gallstone diseaseis low in the south Indian population (4.87%). The low prevalence was probably due to the low socioeconomic status and the diet and lifestyle.

The association between gallstone disease and metabolic syndrome related abnormalities: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundBile excretion is one of the important metabolite excretion pathways of the human body. In recent years, it has been reported that metabolic diseases are associated with the occurrence of gallstone disease. The main purpose of this systematic review is to examine the relationship between metabolic syndrome and cholelithiasis, including components of the metabolic syndrome such as abnormal blood glucose regulation, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for all English language articles for the following relevant keywords: Metabolic Syndrome, Reaven Syndrome X, Biliary Calculi, Cholelithiasis Gallstones. Case-control study, cross-sectional study, and cohort study were included. Pooled relative risks (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The pooled mean differences of the outcome measures were compared between patients with and without metabolic syndrome.ResultsAfter screening, a total of 5 cross-sectional studies and 1 cohort study were included in the meta-analysis. The 6 studies evaluated a total of 49,101 people, of whom 9055 had metabolic syndrome and 2308 had gallstone disease. There is a significant correlation between metabolic syndrome and gallstone disease (z = 6.65, p = 0.000), and it’s more significant in female. All studies displayed increasing odds of gallstone disease with increasing number of metabolic syndrome traits, where patients with three or more metabolic syndrome traits tended to have a higher prevalence of nephrolithiasis.ConclusionsOur review shows a definite association of metabolic syndrome with gallstone disease, and the more the components of metabolic syndrome, the higher the prevalence of gallstone disease. Although not as obvious as women, men also support this conclusion.

&lt;p&gt;Relationship Between Gallstone Disease and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Elderly People with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease&lt;/p&gt;

BackgroundThe prevalence of gallstone disease (GSD) increases with age, and the elderly have a much higher mortality risk and incidence of surgical comorbidities. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between GSD and cardiometabolic risk factors in elderly people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data of elderly people who underwent annual health check-ups at a Northern Taiwan health examination center. These data were collected from physical examination, blood tests, abdominal ultrasonography, and medical histories. We excluded those with hepatitis B or C infections, heavy alcohol consumption, or cholecystectomy.ResultsThe analysis included 3,037 participants with a mean age of 73.6±6.0 years. Over 70% were overweight or obese, and the overall prevalence of GSD was 17.7%. In our univariate analysis, GSD was positively correlated with age, body mass index, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and various metabolic factors (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], triglyceride, uric acid, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] levels). After adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index, metabolic syndrome showed a positive association with GSD (odds ratio [OR] 1.31 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.64]; P=0.020). Specific components of metabolic syndrome that increased the risk for GSD in NAFLD elderly include lower levels of HDL-C (OR 1.35 [95% CI, 1.10–1.66]; P<0.001) and elevated FPG (OR 1.36 [95% CI, 1.10–1.69]; P<0.001).ConclusionOur study concluded that GSD is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in elderly people with NAFLD. Reduced HDL-C and elevated FPG both heighten the risk of developing GSD. Therefore, to lower the risk of GSD in NAFLD patients, their FPG levels and HDL-C levels must be regularly followed-up, and these patients should be educated about the symptoms of GSD if they meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Association of Body Mass Index and Waist to Hip Ratio With Gallstone Disease in Patients Visiting Rural Tertiary Care Center in North India

Introduction. In India the prevalence of gall stone disease varies in different parts of India. Malhotra in 1996 conducted an epidemiological study in Indian Railway employees and showed that North Indians has 7 times higher prevalence of gall stones compared to South Indian employees. It is said that Gall bladder is a disease of "Fatty, Fertile, Females in their Forties". In our daily routine we observe that it is found not only in fatty females but common in average built patients also. Material and Methods. Study includes patients visiting to BPS GMC Khanpur Kalan with diagnosis of gall stone diseases and operated at our center with sample size of 135. Body mass index (BMI) and Waist to Hip ratio are calculated using their standard formulas. All data was compiled in IBM SPSS statistics (20.0). Result. Normal BMI is considered up to 25 and more than 50% patients lie in normal BMI range. Only 13% of cases lie in obese group that is BMI greater than 30. Waist to hip ratio, maximum patients that is BMI greater than 30. Waist to hip ratio, maximum patients that is (83%) lie in group more than 0.85. Minimum Waist to Hip ratio is .77 and maximum Waist to Hip ratio is 1.45. Out of 135 patients 90 patients are having high Waist to Hip ratio. Conclusion. Waist to Hip Ratio (abdominal adiposity) is better indicator of Gall stone diseases than BMI.

Physical activity can reduce the prevalence of gallstone disease among males: An observational study.

Several previous studies have reported that physical activity (PA) levels can independently affect the prevalence of gallstone disease (GD) in Western countries. However, this association has not been reported in Eastern countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether PA is an independent determinant of GD prevalence in a Korean population, according to the World Health Organizations Global Recommendations on PA for Health.A total of 8908 subjects who completed a questionnaire underwent medical examination and ultrasound scanning at the Health Promotion Center of the Jeju National University Hospital between January 2009 and December 2018. GD and fatty liver disease were diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Biochemical parameters and body mass index were determined, and metabolic syndrome status, age, and PA levels were extracted from medical records. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent factors affecting GD.The estimated rates of PA and GD among male subjects were 23.7% and 4.6%, whereas the rates among females were 18.4% and 4.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis suggested that no PA, old age, and higher aspartate aminotransferase level in males and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease status in females were independent factors affecting GD.In our study, PA was associated with a reduction in GD among males but not females.

Transcriptomic profiles reveal differences in zinc metabolism, inflammation, and tight junction proteins in duodenum from cholesterol gallstone subjects

Cholesterol Gallstone Disease (GSD) is a common multifactorial disorder characterized by crystallization and aggregation of biliary cholesterol in the gallbladder. The global prevalence of GSD is ~10–20% in the adult population but rises to 28% in Chile (17% among men and 30% among women). The small intestine may play a role in GSD pathogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms have not been clarified. Our aim was to identify the role of the small intestine in GSD pathogenesis. Duodenal biopsy samples were obtained from patients with GSD and healthy volunteers. GSD status was defined by abdominal ultrasonography. We performed a transcriptome study in a discovery cohort using Illumina HiSeq. 2500, and qPCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to validate differentially expressed genes among additional case-control cohorts. 548 differentially expressed genes between GSD and control subjects were identified. Enriched biological processes related to cellular response to zinc, and immune and antimicrobial responses were observed in GSD patients. We validated lower transcript levels of metallothionein, NPC1L1 and tight junction genes and higher transcript levels of genes involved in immune and antimicrobial pathways in GSD patients. Interestingly, serum zinc and phytosterol to cholesterol precursor ratios were lower in GSD patients. A significant association was observed between serum zinc and phytosterol levels. Our results support a model where proximal small intestine plays a key role in GSD pathogenesis. Zinc supplementation, modulation of proximal microbiota and/or intestinal barrier may be novel targets for strategies to prevent GSD.

Promotional effect of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on Gallstone disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Growing evidence indicates that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and gallstone disease (GD) share the same risk factors, and that NAFLD may be associated with the occurrence of GD. However, overall results remain controversial. The aim of this study is to perform a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between GD and NAFLD. Five databases (PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were queried, and observational studies that assessed the association between GD and NAFLD were selected. We pooled the prevalence of GD in participants with NAFLD, and compared the prevalence of GD in NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups in four trials. Twelve studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of GD in cases with NAFLD was 17% (95% CI: 0.12-0.23). Compared with the non-NAFLD group, NAFLD was significantly correlated with GD (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.23-1.59). Additional analyses reveal that participants in the GD group included more females (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.36-2.79), were older (WMD: 6.61, 95% CI: 3.80-9.42), and had higher BMIs (WMD: 1.63, 95% CI: 0.62-2.65) in the population with NAFLD, compared to the non-GD group. GD prevalence in NAFLD patients is higher than that in the general population. Furthermore, the occurrence of GD is significantly associated with the female sex, age and BMI in NAFLD patients.

Serum lipid levels are the risk factors of gallbladder stones: a population-based study in China

BackgroundGallstones are the cause of a majority of biliary tract discomfort. Although many community-based studies have addressed the risk factors for gallstone disease (GSD), little is known about GSD prevalence and risk factors in Chinese populations.MethodsFrom January 2014 to January 2015, participants (N = 2,068,523) were recruited by Meinian Onehealth Healthcare Co., Ltd. They received a physical examination, and GSD was determined by ultrasound.ResultsThe prevalence of GSD was 8.1%. Risks of GSD were similar between males and females in all age groups. Risk factors for gallstones include body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and physical activity, as well as biological factors such as age, sex, and elevated blood lipid levels. Serum lipid levels of GSD were statistically different from controls in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (H-DL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and apolipoprotein B (APOB). Furthermore, TC > 5.00 mmol/L, TG > 1.39 mmol/L, HDL < 1.19 mmol/L, LDL > 3.04 mmol/L, and APOB > 0.97 mmol/L were risk factors for gallstones.ConclusionsSerum lipid levels are associated with GSD. TC, TG, LDL, and APOB are risk factors, while HDL is a protective factor.

Prevalence and risk factors of gallstone disease in patients undergoing ultrasonography at Mulago hospital, Uganda.

Gallstone disease (GSD) is the most prevalent medical condition in the pancreatobiliary system. The burden of GSD and its complications are major public health issues globally. It is a common cause of surgical intervention, contributing substantially to health care costs. Most patients are asymptomatic, however 20% become symptomatic after 10 years. Its prevalence differs among populations and remains unknown in Uganda. To determine the prevalence and risk factors of GSD in patients undergoing abdominal ultrasonography at Mulago hospital, Uganda. This was a cross-sectional study at the Department of Radiology in Mulago hospital. Convenient sampling was used to recruit individuals having an abdominal ultrasound scan. Questionnaires were used to assess risk factors, and an abdominal exam was performed for individuals with gallstones to assess symptomatology. The prevalence of GSD was 22%. Statistically significant factors associated with GSD were a history of hormonal contraceptive use OR 3.2 (1.88-5.41) and a history of previous biliary symptoms OR 2.9 (1.68-4.91). Ninety-four percent of individuals with gallstones had epigastric/right upper quadrant pain. The prevalence of GSD is high in Mulago hospital; use of hormonal contraceptives and a previous history of biliary symptoms were significant risk factors for GSD in this study. Majority of patients with GSD were symptomatic with epigastric pain as the cardinal symptom. We recommend a countrywide screening program using abdominal ultrasonography to determine the prevalence of GSD in the general population. There is need to study further the risk of hormonal contraceptive use and GSD. Women on these contraceptives should be informed of the potential risk, and offered alternative options where feasible.

Serum lipid profile in patients with cholesterol containing gallstones: A study from South India

Background: Cholelithiasis is a common disease and notable advances have been made in studying the possible causes and mechanisms involved. It is not only important to study the prevalence of gallstone disease regionally, but also to explore the demographic and biological markers related to the development of gallstone disease, so that appropriate preventive measures may be undertaken. Many previous studies have shown a positive correlation between altered lipid profile and formation of gallstones, whereas some show no definite correlation between the two. Objective: This work aimed to study the association of lipid profile with cholelithiasis in our geographic region. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of cases who underwent cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis, obtained from the archives of the Department of Pathology. The lipid profiles of these patients were retrieved from the laboratory records and analyzed. Results: The number of patients with mixed stones (cholesterol and pigment) accounted for 85% and pure cholesterol stones were seen 15% of the cases. Deranged lipid profile was observed in 57 (95%) of the cases. The most common abnormality was increased levels of low-density lipoprotein /very low density lipoprotein with decreased high-density lipoprotein. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that a significant number of patients with cholesterol-containing stones had a deranged lipid profile. This suggests that hyperlipidemia plays an important role in the lithogenesis of cholesterol-rich gallstones.

SONOGRAPHIC INCIDENCE OF CHOLELITHIASIS IN THE INDIVIDUAL WITH POSITIVE FAMIL HISTORY

Background: The incidence of Cholelithiasis is definitely recognized through propelling ages, as gallbladder stones are unordinary in individuals more young then 30 years for the most part with the recurrence running from 10 to 20% of the aggregate population. It represents a major burden for healthiness global and are one of the most widely recognized issue presenting to emergency room. Ultrasound is perceived as the highest quality level for diagnosing gallstones.Objectives: The present study was aims to establish the sonographic incidence of Cholelithiasis in the individual with positive family history.Material and Method: The Cross sectional study was included 130 patients. This study was conducted at the Department of Radiology in Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan. The duration of study was from 15 July to 15 October 2019. Data was analysis by Statistical Software for Social Sciences “SPSS version 24”. Results: Overall 130 patients included in this study. Out of 130, female individuals was 85(65.4%) and male 45(34.6%). Epigastric pain was in all individuals 130(100%). Out of 130 patients, gallstones found in 76(58.4%) patients, in which males are 21(16.2%), females 55(42.3%) and the remaining 54(41.5%) patients had no stone. In 130 patients, 37(28.5%) had positive family history and 93(71.5%) negative family history.Conclusion: It is suggested that all individuals who have epigastric pain should go through process of ultrasonography. The overall prevalence of gallstone disease was 28.5%. The occurrences of gallbladder stones were revealed several folds elevated in female while contrast with male.

Prevalence of gallstone disease in the patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Sanandaj: A case control study

Prevalence of gallstone disease in the patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Sanandaj: A case control study

Insights into the pharmacology of GPER/GPR30 and its involvement in gallstone formation

The prevalence of gallstone disease is a major public health issue globally, and due to complex etiology of gallstones, there are a limited number of pharmaceuticals available. While the G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor (GPR30/GPER) has been shown to induce gallstone formation, little is known about its chemical biology and pharmacology. Building upon previous computational modeling of GPER, a novel series of antagonists were designed and synthesized. These novel compounds were assessed for their therapeutic value via calcium mobilization, cyclic AMP, and estrogen receptor a and β binding assays. From this series of compounds, one compound, SG‐1, exhibited superior antagonism and selectivity for GPER. The potential therapeutic value of SG‐1 was further validated in an in vivo mouse model of gallstone formation. Data revealed that SG‐1 treatment results in a dose‐dependent reduction in gallstone prevalence in estrogen‐treated ovariectomized mice.Support or Funding InformationSupported by startup funds from Saint Louis University (C.A.) and this work was supported in part by research grants DK73917 and DK101793 (to D.W.).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

High prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis: A new comorbidity related to dyslipidemia?

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of gallstone disease and identify associated risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to the general population. MethodsEighty-four women with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Each patient was assessed via a structured interview, physical examination, abdominal ultrasound and blood test including lipid profile. The prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis was compared with data from a study of the Spanish population matched by age groups. ResultsTwenty-eight of the 84 women had gallstone disease (33.3%). RA women with and without gallstone disease were similar in most of the variables assessed, except for older age and menopausal status in the former. A greater prevalence of gallstone disease was seen in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to the general population of the same age; however, the differences were significant only in women aged 60 or older (45.5% versus 23.1% respectively, P-value .008). The age-adjusted OR of developing gallstone disease in RA women compared with general population women was 2,3 (95% CI: 1.3–4.1). A significantly higher HDL3-c subfraction and higher apoA-I/HDL and HDL3-c/TC ratios were observed in patients with gallstone disease. ConclusionWomen with rheumatoid arthritis may have a predisposition to gallstones that can manifest in middle or older age compared with women in the general population. This situation could be related to chronic inflammation and HDL metabolism.

High prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis: A new comorbidity related to dyslipidemia?

To assess the prevalence of gallstone disease and identify associated risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to the general population. Eighty-four women with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Each patient was assessed via a structured interview, physical examination, abdominal ultrasound and blood test including lipid profile. The prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis was compared with data from a study of the Spanish population matched by age groups. Twenty-eight of the 84 women had gallstone disease (33.3%). RA women with and without gallstone disease were similar in most of the variables assessed, except for older age and menopausal status in the former. A greater prevalence of gallstone disease was seen in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to the general population of the same age; however, the differences were significant only in women aged 60 or older (45.5% versus 23.1% respectively, P-value .008). The age-adjusted OR of developing gallstone disease in RA women compared with general population women was 2,3 (95% CI: 1.3-4.1). A significantly higher HDL3-c subfraction and higher apoA-I/HDL and HDL3-c/TC ratios were observed in patients with gallstone disease. Women with rheumatoid arthritis may have a predisposition to gallstones that can manifest in middle or older age compared with women in the general population. This situation could be related to chronic inflammation and HDL metabolism.